Oh what a year. 2016 has been baffling. If it wasn't our heroes reminding us that they may actually have been mortal, there's been the political avalanche of bad news sending even the least compassionate amongst us to breaking point. Even just a few minutes on Facebook on any given day this year will have shown you the worst of humanity or unbelievable stories of survival in warzones (thinking about that guy feeding cats in Aleppo still makes the gravity in my stomach shift).

There are a lot of people really struggling right now and it's taken a lot to live through 2016 without adding to the suicide statistics (if you're one of the people finding life challenging right now, look up CALM). You've made it this far, just keep going, it isn't like things on this planet can actually get much worse, can they?

Here at DiS we've tried our best to keep you distracted from the dismal, dark and debilitating reality of this year. We've published 3 reviews almost every day in 2016 and at least 5 new features a week. We're a few 1000 eyeballs shy of 3million readers this year, so have some of that all you doubters who seem to think the internet is dying and people don't read no more...

Here are the 16 most read in-depth articles that we've published this year. All of which - in my humble but I guess somewhat biassed opinion as editor in chief - are worth bookmarking to read on your festive commute or when your attempt to try to drink Jager-bombs like you're still an invincible 18-year-old leaves you pinned to your bed...

3) SECRET GARDEN PARTY FESTIVAL PREVIEW

4) DREAM THEATER + BOWIE

The Grammy-nominated band, who formed in 1985 and have since sold tens of millions of records, are well-known for grandiose epics, dazzling virtuosity and complex structures. However, their latest album The Astonishing seems one step even further.

7) RIP ATP

'But, right, the thing about Riot Grrl is that, like, they didn’t know what it was at the time. It was proto-Riot Grrrl. It’s, like, punk for women, like, proto-punk.'

There’s a guy behind me in the queue for the chip shop. He must be about 20, long hair, kind-of posh sounding. He beat-boxes under his breath, and he’s mansplaining Riot Grrl to his girlfriend. Badly. At one point he refers to her mates as 'norms' because they go clubbing. I fucking hate him. To be honest I fucking hate both of them, privileged art-student types talking about why the Rocky Horror Picture Show is too mainstream to be a cult film, and whether The Raincoats are a punk band or not. I hate them. I want to punch the boy one in the face. And because I’m pretty sure he is exactly what I was like 15 years ago, only less well spoken, I hate myself as well. I hate myself for being so judgey, and for having such an instinctive chip on my shoulder about privilege, for the fact I’m pretty sure I was that kid once. I hate myself now, I hate the version of myself then, and I fucking hate this kid behind me. I’m in a 40-minute queue for a chip shop, and I hate that too. It’s one of only two places to buy hot food on site, and it’s not even a real chip shop, the chips are frozen, the sausages and chicken legs in the heated counter are shrivelled and burnt. They ran out of fish hours ago. I hate this. And because I’m aware how much of a snob that makes me, I hate myself for hating it.

8) NICK CAVE MOVIE REVIEW

This misadventure into the mist of grief is made less unbearable by the presence of Warren Ellis, steering the ship away from the abyss with warmth and kindness. It should be everyone’s ambition to find that kinship in another human being. We all need a Warren Ellis.